NIC Cultural & Linguistic Competency 3

Question 1

In Deaf culture, sustained direct eye contact during a signed conversation generally signals:

Accepted Answer

Active listening and engagement

Answer

In Deaf culture, maintaining eye contact is a sign of active listening and engagement, unlike in some hearing cultures where prolonged eye contact may feel intense.

Question 2

An interpreter encounters a culturally specific concept in the source language that has no direct equivalent in ASL. The best approach is to:

Accepted Answer

Find the closest culturally equivalent concept in ASL and, if needed, briefly clarify

Answer

When a direct equivalent does not exist, skilled interpreters use the closest functional equivalent and may add a brief cultural clarification when essential.

Question 3

What is 'Deaf gain' as a cultural concept relevant to interpreters?

Accepted Answer

The perspective that Deaf people contribute unique cognitive and cultural strengths to society

Answer

Deaf gain, coined by H-Dirksen Bauman, reframes Deafness as a form of human diversity that brings unique contributions rather than as a deficit.

Question 4

Which of the following behaviors demonstrates audism?

Accepted Answer

Assuming that a Deaf person cannot lead a meeting without an interpreter's help

Answer

Audism is the belief that hearing ability is superior and that Deaf people are less capable, exemplified by unwarranted paternalistic assumptions.

Question 5

A hearing parent of a Deaf child asks the interpreter to explain 'what Deaf people are like.' The interpreter should:

Accepted Answer

Refer the parent to Deaf culture resources and community contacts outside the interpreting session

Answer

Interpreters should not act as cultural ambassadors during sessions but can appropriately refer consumers to community resources for further education.

(NIC) National Interpreter Certification Practice Test

(NIC) National Interpreter Certification Practice Test

NIC Cultural & Linguistic Competency 3